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Santiago vs Medellín

Medellín runs about 32% cheaper than Santiago for this household, a difference of 527 USD a month.

Doppeleinheit Bauart X’Trapolis Modular auf dem Gleis 6. Die von Alstom gelieferten Triebwagen basieren auf den S-Bahn-Triebwagen des Typs Civia von CAF. Die Wagen sind auf eine Bahnsteighöhe auf Wage
Santiago
$1,648/month · Chile
Falk2 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Vista aérea del aeropuerto internacional José María Córdova de Medellín.
Medellín
$1,121/month · Colombia
Felipe Restrepo Acosta · CC BY-SA 4.0
Santiago monthly
$1,648
Index 26 (NYC = 100)
Medellín monthly
$1,121
Index 18 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-32%
Medellín relative to Santiago
Rent gap
$220
Santiago costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

SantiagoMedellín
  • Housing
    Housing: Santiago $700, Medellín $480. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Food
    Food: Santiago $548, Medellín $358. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Transport
    Transport: Santiago $58, Medellín $50. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Santiago $111, Medellín $65. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Santiago $22, Medellín $16. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Santiago $139, Medellín $105. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Other
    Other: Santiago $70, Medellín $48. Cheaper in Medellín.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricSantiagoMedellín
Cost
Total monthly cost1,648 USD1,121 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)2618✓
Housing700 USD480 USD✓
Utilities111 USD65 USD✓
Food548 USD358 USD✓
Transport58 USD50 USD✓
Healthcare22 USD16 USD✓
Lifestyle139 USD105 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,204 USD✓5,337 USD
Effective tax + social rate25.5%✓36.0%
Left over each month4,556 USD✓4,216 USD
Average local net salary950 USD✓450 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre700 USD480 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre1,400 USD1,000 USD✓
Buy price per m², centre2,800 USD1,800 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety54/100✓46/100
Healthcare72/100✓66/100
Air quality32/10048/100✓
Public transport78/100✓62/100
Walkability72/100✓66/100
English proficiency34/10034/100
Nightlife74/10088/100✓
Family friendliness72/100✓64/100
Median broadband180 Mbps✓100 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature15°C✓22°C
Summer high29°C28°C✓
Winter low3°C17°C✓
Sunshine hours per year2,600 h✓1,900 h
Annual rainfall310 mm✓1650 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoYes✓
Beach access100 min✓180 min
CurrencyCLPCOP
Time zoneAmerica/SantiagoAmerica/Bogota

Medellín runs about 32% cheaper than Santiago for this household, a difference of 527 USD a month.

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Cost of living in SantiagoCost of living in MedellínConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Santiago or Medellín cheaper?

Medellín runs about 32% cheaper than Santiago for this household, a difference of 527 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Medellín compared with Santiago?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,204 a month in Santiago and $5,337 in Medellín, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Santiago or Medellín?

Santiago scores 54/100 on safety and 72/100 on healthcare; Medellín scores 46 and 66. Santiago averages 15°C against 22°C in Medellín.